Antarctic Ice and Snow Structure from Radar and Aerial Surveys

Ground and aerial measurements of snow and ice properties near Ross Island, Antarctica, were collected to validate satellite radar data. The dataset includes ground-penetrating radar profiles, snow pit analyses, ice coring, stake measurements, and helicopter electromagnetic surveys across the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Ross Island, and McMurdo Sound. The data was compiled by SCIOPS and last updated in November 2009.

Use Cases

• Validate satellite radar measurements of snow and ice using ground truth data from GPR transects and snow pits.
• Analyze spatial and temporal variability in snow accumulation near Ross Island using stake and GPR measurements over one- and five-year periods.
• Model ice shelf thickness and internal structure by combining 50MHz GPR data on saline layers with helicopter EM bird grid surveys.
• Characterize surface roughness of snow on land ice using data from a laser ranger on a skidoo and a small unmanned aircraft.
• Determine total sea ice thickness along transects by correlating GPR snow thickness measurements with ice drilling data.

Strengths

• Multi-instrument validation combining ground-penetrating radar, electromagnetic bird, UAV, and manual ice coring.
• Spatial coverage includes multiple sites on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Ross Island, and McMurdo Sound transects.
• Temporal data on snow accumulation spans one-year stake measurements and a five-year dust layer record.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally stale, with the last update in 2009, limiting analysis of recent climate trends.
• Specific sample sizes, row counts, and geographic coordinates for measurements are not provided.
• Focus is geographically limited to the Ross Island region, which may not represent other Antarctic areas.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (platform), SCIOPS (organization).

Collection Method

Field measurements using ground-penetrating radar (500/1000 GHz and 50 MHz), snow pits, ice coring, stake networks, laser ranging, unmanned aircraft, and helicopter electromagnetic bird.

Time Range

Measurements include annual accumulation over one year and a five-year dust layer record; specific collection dates unknown.

Geography

McMurdo Ice Shelf, Ross Island, and landfast/new sea ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.